[Flushing, NY] — Armand Corporation celebrated the official groundbreaking for a new public restroom building at Kissena Park in Flushing, Queens, the latest site to advance under a citywide design-build bundle initiative to bring modern, accessible restroom facilities to some of New York City’s busiest parks. The project is being delivered under a design-build contract with the New York City Department of Design and Construction (NYC DDC) and sponsored by NYC Parks. Kissena Park joins facilities already under construction at East River Park, Murphy Brothers Playground, Van Cortlandt Park, and Brookville Park.
On October 28th, Barbara A. Armand, President and CEO of Armand Corporation, was joined by NYC DDC Commissioner Paul A. Ochoa, Queens Borough Commissioner Jacqueline Langsam, Congressmember Grace Meng, New York State Senator John C. Liu, New York State Assemblymember Nily D. Rozic, Councilmember Sandra Ung, Queens Community Board 7 District Manager Marilyn McAndrews, and Leona Chin, Program Manager of Kissena Synergy, for a ceremonial groundbreaking at Kissena Park. Spanning more than 230 acres and home to Kissena Lake, the Kissena Velodrome, and miles of trails and athletic fields, the new facility, located adjacent to softball field #5, Four Winds Playground, and the Velodrome, will serve the thousands of residents and visitors.
The Kissena Park building is one of five public restroom facilities included in the design-build contract, alongside Murphy Brothers Playground, East River Park, Van Cortlandt Park, and Brookville Park. The design-build team has tailored each building to the character and needs of its park while holding every site to the same standards of accessibility, durability, and sustainability. At Kissena Park, the facility will incorporate energy-efficient systems, such as a solar array placed on the roof. The facility will also feature a new ADA-accessible pathway lit by decorative light poles from Booth Memorial Avenue. These highly durable, low-maintenance materials are intended to keep the building and site improvements resilient while offering visitors a cleaner, safer, and more comfortable park experience.
“When you gotta go, you gotta go. We all know the feeling of urgently needing a restroom without one in sight— and I am proud to say that DDC has been making progress in constructing five new public restroom facilities across the City,” said NYC Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Paul A. Ochoa. “Our most recent groundbreaking took place at Kissena Park, a 235-acre greenspace in Queens where this facility has been long overdue. This site is part of a design-build bundle that includes East River Park, Murphy Brothers Playground, Van Cortlandt Park and Brookville Park. Working alongside our partners at NYC Parks, Armand Corporation and INFOTRAN Engineers & Architects, P.C., we are committed to delivering durable, ADA-accessible public restrooms faster to New Yorkers.”
INFOTRAN Engineers & Architects, P.C., serves as Armand Corporation’s design partner on the project. Together with NYC DDC, NYC Parks, and local stakeholders, the team has engaged the community throughout planning and design so that the Kissena Park facility reflects the priorities of the neighborhoods that surround it. The design-build approach allows design and construction to progress in parallel, shortening the overall schedule.
As the first minority- and woman-owned firm to be awarded a design-build contract by NYC DDC, Armand Corporation is helping demonstrate how the agency’s commitment to expanding opportunities for Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises translates into tangible public infrastructure in communities across the city.
“We are grateful to the NYC Department of Design and Construction for the opportunity to help deliver this important project,” said Barbara A. Armand, Founder, President, and CEO of Armand Corporation. “This fourth building reflects the strength of our team and our long-standing commitment to community-focused infrastructure. We are proud to support the delivery of essential public facilities that will serve New Yorkers across multiple boroughs.”
With Kissena Park now underway, work is progressing at all five sites, and substantial completion of the earlier commenced sites is anticipated by the end of 2026.
About Armand Corporation
Armand Corporation (www.Armandcorp.com) is a construction and program management firm committed to delivering complex projects that strengthen communities across the Northeast and throughout the United States. Founded in 1991, the company is celebrating 35 years of service on high-profile, multi-faceted projects. Armand is an independently owned, woman-owned, and minority-owned business led by founder Barbara A. Armand, President and CEO. Its multidisciplinary team includes construction managers, inspectors, engineers, schedulers, and project controls professionals managing projects ranging from $500,000 to more than $1.2 billion.
Rendering courtesy of INFOTRAN Engineers & Architects, P.C.
Shamsell Abdill brings over 20 years of experience in the construction industry to her role as Vice President at Armand Corporation. She oversees the company’s building and infrastructure programs, serving as Project Executive, and is renowned for her expertise in contract administration, project management, problem resolution, and M/WBE compliance. Her career highlights include contributing to the rebuilding of the World Trade Center as part of the Procurement and Change Order Management Team, where she gained extensive experience in procurement and negotiation. Shamsell leverages her comprehensive industry knowledge to build strong professional relationships with agencies and utility companies, minimizing impacts on construction schedules. Her diverse project portfolio spans corporate, correctional, healthcare, educational, and landmark building restorations, as well as masonry renovations. She is adept in various project delivery methods, including construction manager as agent, construction manager at risk, design-bid-build, and design-build, making her an invaluable leader in delivering successful projects for Armand Corporation.
Robert “Bob” Mello is a seasoned construction professional with over 35 years of experience managing both new construction and renovation projects. As Associate Vice President of Pre-Construction at Armand Corporation, Bob specializes in overseeing planning and construction-related services for public and private clients.
A licensed Professional Engineer in New York State, Bob’s extensive expertise includes managing projects across urban environments and on-call contracts. His skill set encompasses facility planning, property condition assessments, constructability reviews, quality control and compliance, energy efficiency initiatives, and scope and schedule reviews.
Bob’s comprehensive approach ensures effective construction management from initial phases through project close-out, making him an invaluable leader in delivering successful outcomes for Armand’s clients.
CariAnn Palmese is a senior program manager with nearly 20 years of experience delivering program management and administrative support for large, complex, multi-million-dollar projects. Her expertise includes developing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure the successful execution of challenging initiatives.
A highlight of CariAnn’s career was guiding the Nassau County Department of Public Works in managing community reconstruction projects under a $36 million CDBG-DR capital program. Currently, she works alongside Armand’s team to provide construction management services for disaster recovery capital programs, showcasing her dedication to driving successful outcomes in high-stakes environments.
Jerome Wright is a seasoned financial analyst with nearly 20 years of accounting experience across diverse industries. As Associate Vice President of Operations at Armand Corporation, Jerome excels in managing and tracking vendor invoices, ensuring timely processing using project-specific templates, and providing hands-on assistance to vendors with invoice submissions.
Jerome’s expertise includes preparing detailed invoice summary reports for Program Manager approvals and collaborating with Program Managers to resolve billing discrepancies. He has a proven ability to reconcile financial data, comparing and correcting invoice details while working closely with project management and accounting teams to address invoicing issues.His commitment to precision and collaboration makes him an integral part of the operations team.
At Armand Corporation, We are committed to maintaining a secure and transparent hiring process. Please be aware of potential job scams that misuse our name to solicit sensitive or personal information. We do not request Social Security numbers, bank account details, or payment of any kind during the initial stages of the hiring process. Additionally, we never offer employment without a formal interview process. All applicants are required to participate in one or more interviews before any job offer is extended. While we may request verification of education, certifications, or licenses during the later stages of the hiring process.
If you receive suspicious communication claiming to be from Armand Corporation or are uncertain about the legitimacy of a job offer, please contact us directly at careers@armandcorp.com for confirmation. Protecting your privacy and ensuring a fair and professional hiring experience is our top priority.
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Phillip Grant is responsible for overseeing the company’s daily operations and driving the execution of strategic initiatives. He manages key relationships with stakeholders, including boards, owners, consultants, and contractors. Phillip is also responsible for negotiating contracts, resolving budget and schedule challenges, and integrating innovative technologies. He has over 20 years of extensive expertise in economic development, engineering, and public infrastructure. Phillip has successfully managed multi-billion dollar capital construction programs, focusing on sustainability, compliance, and efficiency. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York, a Certified Construction Manager and holds a BS in engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University and an MBA from Mercy University. He is also a member of the Construction Management Association of America, National Society of Professional Engineers, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
